Google Adds DRM To Play Store As A Security Measure

Google has already announced last year that it would increase the security measures for apps on the Google Play Store for Android devices with DRM, and it looks like Google is now keeping that promise. APK files – which are the installation files for Android – now have additional metadata to ensure the authenticity and security of the file.

This metadata – which is considered to be a form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) – will be mandatory in the future, reports SlashGear. Every APK file would need to have this metadata, whether it would come from the Google Play Store, or from another source. This will likely cut down on the piracy issues, which is a bigger problem on Android than on iOS.

According to Google, making the metadata mandatory reduces the chances of the app holding malicious code, as the source of that app can now be checked. At the same time, the company also states that app manufacturers will be given more options to make sure users are using the latest version of the app – which is often necessary to fix security issues.

This form of DRM would definitely have its benefits, but there are some major concerns as well. For example, older versions of apps would become unusable and would force users to update to a newer version, even if they don’t want to. The metadata DRM also allows Google to control and block any app of their choosing.